Once very long ago, the story goes, a hermit had a vision in his desert monastery. He saw a vast ocean. On one of its shores a monk was standing. The monk leaped high into the air, and with bright wings soared effortlessly across the great body of water to a heavenly land on the other side.
As the hermit wondered over this strange revelation, he saw a second monk approach the shore. This monk spread his wings. But his flight did not go so smoothly. Though the monk finally arrived at the other shore, he had all he could do to keep from falling into the lashing waves.
Finally, a third monk appeared. This smallest and frailest of the three monks, he soared into the air like the others, but his wings were weak, and he fell into the roaring waters over and over, practically drowning each time. Only with the most heroic efforts and titanic struggles did he eventually arrive, half dead and thoroughly drenched, on the other shore.
After much pondering the hermit went to his spiritual guide and asked the meaning of this vision.
His guide interpreted it in this way: "The first monk you saw was the believer who aspires to fly to heaven in our own time - now, when religion and good people are everywhere, and when reaching heaven is a simple matter.
"The next monk stands for those who wish to reach heaven in the years to come. Their journey will be far more difficult.
"Finally, the third monk is the believer who makes spiritual efforts in the very distant future, when religion and righteousness have almost vanished from the earth. During this dark time it will be difficult beyond imagination to find one's way to the other shore.
"So rejoice that you live in our blessed time," the spiritual director concluded. "But remember this - remember this above all: the third monk's efforts are worth far, far more than those of all the rest."
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